MS under fire for bully-boy antics

Martin Briggs, MD of MCB Computers and finance director of Network Computer Buying, is leading calls for government action to defend small computer retailers from Microsoft's monopolistic actions.

In a letter to Labour MP Barry Jones, Briggs accused Microsoft of 'unacceptable restriction of trade' by pursuing legal action against retailers accused of buying software from non-Microsoft approved distributors.

Briggs also claimed that Microsoft's decision demanding that retailers sign documents which grant it the right to 'audit' them was an example of 'heavy-handed bully boy tactics'.

Briggs agreed with the main principles of the Microsoft code of conduct, but said that the tone the company was taking was unacceptable. He accused Microsoft of 'continued abuse of the monopolistic position (it) holds in our industry'.

Microsoft was not available for comment.